Employee or Self-Employed?

Another common issue that arises with our clients is the question of “Employee of Self-Employed?”. This can have far-reaching effects including severe financial implications if you do not adhere to the regulations.

There are checklists provided by both CRA and the Province of BC which will help you determine the status of employees.

If you are an employer, it is vital that you correctly determine whether people you are hiring qualify as employees or self-employed. An important thing to remember is that you do NOT have a choice in this matter. If the hiree fits the criteria of being an employee, you MUST treat them as such.

On occasion, employers and employees feel that if they both agree, the employee can actually consider him/herself self-employed. This is not permitted.

Control

Control is the ability, authority, or right of a payer to exercise control over a worker concerning the manner in which the work is done and what work will be done.

Tools and equipment

Consider if the worker owns and provides tools and equipment to accomplish the work. Contractual control of, and responsibility for, an asset in a rental or lease situation is also considered under this factor.

Subcontracting work or hiring assistants

Consider if the worker can subcontract work or hire assistants. This factor can help determine a worker’s business presence because subcontracting work or hiring assistants can affect their chance of profit and risk of loss.

Financial risk

Consider the degree of financial risk taken by the worker. Determine if there are any fixed ongoing costs incurred by the worker or any expenses that are not reimbursed.

Responsibility for investment and management

Consider the degree of responsibility for investment and management held by the worker.

Opportunity for profit

Consider whether the worker can realize a profit or incur a loss, as this indicates that a worker controls the business aspects of services rendered and that a business relationship likely exists. To have a chance of a profit and a risk of a loss, a worker has to have potential proceeds and expenses, and one could exceed the other.

The Province of British Columbia also lays out the criteria for establishing the status of workers. Their website provides clear definitions and examples to help you determine what is the correct approach for your business.

One or more of the following factors is often wrongly believed to establish an independent contractor relationship: (examples as posted on the Province of BC site):

Agreement: The act of signing an independent contractor agreement does not necessarily create an independent contractor relationship. The actual work relationship determines if a person is an employee or independent contractor. Any agreement to waive employment standards entitlements is prohibited by the Act.

Person sets own hours and is not actively supervised: The business may provide significant levels of flexibility to its employees.

Drives his or her own vehicle/provides own tools: It may be a condition of employment that a person provides a vehicle so as to perform the work. In some sectors employees are expected to provide their own tools.t levels of flexibility to its employees.

What happens if you make the wrong choice?

If you have been incorrectly treating an employee as self-employed, you will be subject to not only covering all the CPP and EI contributions plus penalties for not filing payroll remittance reports and contributions; penalties for not filing annual T4s, and WorkSafe BC dues and penalties.

If you fail to comply with the deducting, remitting, and reporting requirements, you may be prosecuted. You could be fined from $1,000 up to $25,000, or you could be fined and imprisoned for a term of up to 12 months. A full list of penalties and other consequences is available on CRA’s website.